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Chetta Achara
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Chetta is the nom de plume of Deborah Guenther Beachboard a poet writing since 1992. Her poetry has been published in Modern Haiku, Sijo West, Amaze: The Cinquain Journal, Short Stuff, Twilight Ending and numerous other online and in print journals.

After taking a 10 year hiatus from writing (for reasons not interesting enough to share) Chetta returned to writing, most recently having poetry published in Periwinkle Pelican, Puddick, Stygian Press, Snoozine, and Sweet Smell.

Chetta makes her home in the Adna Valley in southwest Washington in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

LIFE IS SHORT

It's not
as if you have
a choice in the matter,
but if you leave a poem
it's enough.

May 18, 1980: Remembering the eruption of Mount Saint Helens

Blog Posted by Chetta Achara: 5/18/2024 8:38:00 PM

Photo: Fox Weather

It's been 44 years since the eruption of Mount Saint Helens. My late husband, Jim, and I were living in Chehalis Washington, about 60 miles (as the crow flies) northwest of the mountain.

Jim was out in the front yard working on his old Scout. He looked up at 8:32 am and watched the mountain erupt. He ran inside the house and grabbed me to come see. It was such a beautiful awesome terrifying event. We climbed in the old Scout and went to a high place near us and spent the rest of the day watching the eruption.

It happened so long ago, and yet it seems like yesterday.

I am 66 years old now. When I was about 5 years old I remember my parents and their friends talking about how they were afraid Mount Rainer was going to erupt, and that inspired a poem



This YouTube video tells the whole story.

Minute by Minute: The Eruption of Mount St. Helens



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Date: 5/21/2024 8:09:00 AM
Chetta, I read what you wrote to Andrea. I saw that on a documentary…that the red zone was too small…how terrifying. Though we want to be close we must tread lightly. When I was trekking on a glacier in Alaska, I was all too aware that an earthquake could happen. So many dangers but things happen no matter where you are.
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Date: 5/21/2024 8:06:00 AM
I was on the East Coast when it happened but stationed in Ferndale California shortly after. My new husband and I traveled to Washington to see his dad. I saw the ash alongside the road. It is awesome (frightening and sad) that you got to experience it. It is often what we don’t see, not what we fear. Thank you for sharing! Hugs and hearts ~ Kim
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Date: 5/20/2024 4:17:00 PM
I lived in Sutherlin, Oregon at that time, and the ash from the volcano was all over everything. That was anThat was about five or six hours away from me And I am at 73 now.
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Date: 5/19/2024 9:50:00 AM
Oh I just saw your poem. Wow, so clever!
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Date: 5/19/2024 9:49:00 AM
I remember the documentary about it and I showed it to my students. It's a great example of how nature repaired herself and became beautiful again. It must have been a grand sight. As I recall. A few souls died? But I believe there was warning, wasn't there? Do you still live there? I grew up there in my very early childhood.
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Chetta Achara
Date: 5/19/2024 12:54:00 PM
57 people died. There was warning starting in April of that year, but after no eruption right away many people who lived close to the mountain stopped taking it seriously. There was "red" zone established where people were evacuated from and no one was allowed to go in. Turned out it was way to small. I think it was only about 7 miles out around the mountain. Yes, I still live here. I
Date: 5/19/2024 7:19:00 AM
Nature can be both beautiful and scary. Enjoyed your poem.
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